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Published on: September 4, 2016
Induced polarization: a geophysical method for locating cultural metallic refuse
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 21, 1974
Summary
Induced polarization (IP) successfully detects metal content in cultural refuse sites, aiding civil engineering and potentially archaeological investigations.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Civil Engineering
- Archaeology
Background:
- Delineating cultural refuse sites (dumps) presents challenges in civil engineering.
- Induced polarization (IP) has shown promise in geophysical surveys for site characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of induced polarization measurements for identifying and characterizing cultural refuse sites.
- To determine the primary cause of the IP effect in such sites.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory testing of synthetic samples simulating refuse dump materials.
- Application of induced polarization geophysical techniques.
Main Results:
- IP measurements successfully delineated the refuse sites.
- Laboratory tests confirmed that the metal content of the dumps is responsible for the observed IP effect.
Conclusions:
- Induced polarization is a viable geophysical method for delineating cultural refuse sites.
- The technique shows potential applicability for archaeological investigations and site management.
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